What does "swoon" mean?
A faint.
Swoon
/swuːn/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A faint.
- Grammar: swoon is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: faint, syncope, adore, apoplexies.
- Useful contrasts: alertness, apathy, awake.
- Usage evidence: She had no sooner taken it into her hand than, either because she was too quick and heedless, or because the decree of the fairy had so ordained, it ran into her hand, and she fell down in a swoon.
How to use "swoon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "swoon" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "swoon" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "swoon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "swoon" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "swoon" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "faint" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "swoon", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A faint.
"She dandled it, and dancet it up and doune, / Not ceasing till she rais'd it from his swoune."
- 2 a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain wordnet
- 3 An infatuation.
Verb
- 1 To faint, to lose consciousness. literally
"I threw myself down on the island ground, like a dead man, and drowned in desolation swooned away, nor did I return to my senses till next morning, when the sun rose and revived me."
- 2 pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain wordnet
- 3 To be overwhelmed by emotion, especially infatuation. broadly
- 4 To overwhelm with emotion, especially infatuation. transitive
"That plush mustache of yours has completely swooned me!"
- 5 To make a moan, sigh, or some other sound expressing infatuation or affection.
"The girls swooned at the picture of their favorite actor."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"She had no sooner taken it into her hand than, either because she was too quick and heedless, or because the decree of the fairy had so ordained, it ran into her hand, and she fell down in a swoon."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "swoon"?
Common synonyms include: faint, syncope, adore, apoplexies, black out, blackout.
How do you use "swoon" in a sentence?
She had no sooner taken it into her hand than, either because she was too quick and heedless, or because the decree of the fairy had so ordained, it ran into her hand, and she fell down in a swoon.
How do you pronounce "swoon"?
Pronounced /swuːn/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English swoune, swone, from the verb (see below).
Etymology 2
From Middle English swounen, swonen (“to faint”), and aswoune (“in a swoon”), both ultimately from Old English ġeswōgen (“insensible, senseless, dead”), past participle of swōgan (“to make a sound, overrun, suffocate”) (compare Old English āswōgan (“to cover over, overcome”)), from Proto-West Germanic *swōgan, from Proto-Germanic *swōganą (“to make a noise”), from Proto-Indo-European *sweh₂gʰ-. Cognates Cognate with German Low German swogen, swögen (“to faint, sigh, groan”), Dutch zwoegen (“to groan, breathe heavily”), dialectal Norwegian søgja (“to whistle, hum, talk loudly”). More at sough.